Gram's 85th

A few weeks ago I abandoned the boys in Portland and headed south to Vegas for the weekend. The occassion? My Grandma Elaine was turning 85! I was met there by my sister, mom, three aunts, and grandma (of course) for a weekend of fun. We had a great time and Grams never ceased to impress me. I can only hope I am that spry when I am 85!

Pictures!

Life's been a little busy the last month as we try to cram as much into the final days of summer as possible. We've been on some great trips and seen lots of friends and family. Other than working 4 days a week, our lives are pretty much a vacation! No complaints here!

Here are some pictures from our latest adventures...

Portland Bridge Pedal - Nick's first official bike race.

Seanfest 2009 - a weekend of mountain biking, camping, bacon and beer to celebrate Sean's birthday in the Coast Range.

Lake Powell 2009 - with 14 of our great friends from Colorado and Portland. More fun than should be allowed in any one week. Thanks Becky & Daren!!

Westport, WA - an awesome weekend at the beach with Mary Ann (Andy's mom) and Ryan, Amber & Lily French.

*Oops - forgot our camera! Waiting for pictures from Amber & Ryan.

Becky's 30th Birthday at Becky's family ranch near Mt. Adams. A relaxing weekend with good friends, good weather, and great fun. Oh, and guns, tractors, and death-defying kayaking!

Camping and mountain biking in Oakridge, OR. Nick played with a High Life box and beer bottles all weekend. Real educational!

Luckily, even though summer is officially over, we have lots of fun adventures to look forward to this fall. The San Juans, Vegas, and at least a few camping trips. And Nick is close to mastering walking which is an adventure in and of itself.

Where did the summer go?

August already? Time flies. But what a great summer it's been. I've been terrible about keeping up to date with emails, phone calls and this thing. So here's a quick summary.

Last I wrote I was in Philly for Sara & Steve's wedding; July found me in Philly again but this time for work. I did have a little bit of time to see friends which was great. Four nights away from Nick though, and I was ready to get home!

That trip was preceded by a trip to Minnesota with my family and extended family. We rented an awesome "cabin" by Red Sand Lake outside of Brainerd and spent the week boating, playing tennis, golfing, relaxing, and over-indulging in every way possible. At one point, 20 members of the McRaith family (my mom's family) spanning four generations were there. It was great!

We had visits from all of Andy's siblings in June and July which was fun. The twins recently moved back to Seattle for the summer so now they are just 3 hours away. They came down last week for an emergency babysitting gig. It's great to have them so close!

We also had visits from Becky & Daren from Colorado and Joan from Philadelphia in July, both of which were great. Becky & Daren were here for a week and it was just like old times. We had a great day on the boat, some great BBQs and lots of fun. Lucky for us, we get to see them again in a few weeks in Lake Powell. Joan and I got away this past weekend for a girl's night and a Sugarland concert. We had a great time, but I discovered I can't party like I used to. It took a few days to recover!

In between all the fun, we've had a little time for work (but not too much) and lots of fun with our Portland crew. We've also experienced a heat wave like none other in Portland. Several days over 100, even more over 90. It's supposed to be under 90 tomorrow for the first time in weeks. I can't wait!!

Nick is doing awesome and keeping us entertained and on our toes. He loves life and is full of energy. As long is he is awake, he's on the move. He's not far from walking but not quite there yet. We're not sure if it will make our lives easier or more difficult! He is working on a few words and we're hoping to have him reading by the end of the month (ha!). It's a blast.

Here are a few pictures and a video (sorry, it's kind of long) to keep the grandparents at bay! Love and hugs to all!

Philadelphia Freedom

Good Counsel Girls (minus Sara) - all married off now!

A few weeks ago, I flew to Philly for my first weekend away since Nick was born. While I missed my boys, it was really nice to have a few nights alone. I even got to sleep until 9am both days! My friends Sara and Steve from Villanova got married and it was great to see my college crew again. The wedding was beautiful (and the band was awesome) and I can't imagine a happier couple.

Annie, me and Joan

The bride and groom doing their infamous Double Dutch

Becky, Joan and Eileen

One year down!

It's hard to believe that it was already a year ago that I went in for my 34 week appointment (alone since Andy was climbing in Vegas) only to discover that I was going to have a baby that very same day! I can't believe how fast our little man has grown, but it's also hard to imagine life without him. It's been such a great year and we are so lucky to have such an awesome, funny, well-behaved (most of the time), and adventurous dude in our lives. It's more and different that I could've ever imagined and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Nick's birthDAY was actually more of a birthWEEK, which, given how he came into the world, seemed appropriate. It been with the arrival of my parents, Mimi & Papa, a week before the big day. Nick was lucky to be able to spend a whole day with them while we were at work. They took him to a toy store where he got to pick out his birthday present. According to Papa, Nick insisted that Papa also get a new harmonica and accompanying song book as an early Father's Day gift. Needless to say, Papa perfected Taps over the weekend! We spent the weekend in Manzanita where the weather was, well, typical for the Oregon Coast. I'm not sure why I ever expect anything but. We stayed right on the beach though and had a great time.

Being the popular boy that Nick is, he drew quite a crowd for his first birthday party. His girlfriend, Malia, was the only other baby he wanted to invite (except Brady who wasn't able to get a flight in for the party). He got lots of great gifts - new toys, clothes, and a cool photo album from Mimi & Papa.

I was actually out of town for Nick's REAL birthday (which makes me a terrible mom, I know). I'm pretty sure he didn't know the difference but have a feeling his dad will be sure to remind him once he's older! Luckily, Andy's mom came into town for the big day and Nick got to spend the whole day with her. She bought him a new car (lucky boy!) which he can't get enough of.

Big kid party

Cade, our friends Matt & Sally's son, turned three a few weeks ago and Nick (and parents) were invited to his party at kid's play gym. We weren't quite sure what to expect or how Nick would do with all the "big" kids, but we quickly realized we had nothing to worry about. I've never seen him play so hard in his short little life. He was the proverbial kid in the candy store and crashed equally as hard once it was all over. Andy and I had a pretty good time too!

Smith Rock

Andy on a multi-pitch trad route with Ben & Sean*

Me starting out on a 5'8 sport route - I actually finished it!*

Future rock climber observes from the base*

Katie & Wyatt*

Last weekend we took our second annual camping trip out to Smith Rock in central Oregon with some of our Portland crew. Smith is a well-known rock climbing destination not far from Bend.

We started off the trip by locking the keys in our brand new (to us) Dodge Dakota and had to break the window to rescue the screaming baby (Nick) inside. We hadn't even had the truck for 12 hours. NOTE TO SELF: if ever breaking a window in your car, don't break the small window in the rear door. Although small, it's actually the most expensive to replace! Luckily for us, our insurance is covering the replacement.

The weekend improved immesely from there. Andy, Nick and I slept well in our new family-sized tent, dubbed the "Mondo Condo," complete with separate rooms for parents and children. We've got room to grow with this one! Next item on the list - the deluxe camp kitchen (kidding).

We had great weather (it was HOT!), great food (as usual) and fun activities. We did some hiking, climbing and biking. I even finished a route - the first in several years! Nick was great and only ate a few handfuls of dirt and rocks. Our friend Katie Fifer, a Glenwood native who now lives in Bend, joined us with her dog Wyatt. Wyatt helped keep Nick entertained.

*Pictures courtesy of Jen Gardiner.

My First Mother's Day

We spent my first Mother's Day in Spokane visiting Andy's mom, Mary Ann. She hadn't seen Nick since January so was quite impressed with all his new skills. He kept us all on our toes, crawling all over the place and getting into things he shouldn't. He couldn't get enough of Max and Rosie, Mary Ann's two dogs, although I'm sure they were ready to have the house back to themselves!

The weather was great so we spent some time at the park and Andy and I even got out for a round of golf while Mary Ann babysat. On Mother's Day we had brunch in downtown Spokane and I took Nick on his first carousel ride. I think he liked it?! Nick even got me a new bag from our friend Stacy's store (www.shopredsail.com) that I've been eyeing. How did he know?? It was a fabulous Mother's Day and great that Andy could be with his mom and Nick could be with me. I'm so lucky to be a mom of such an awesome little boy! I couldn't ask for more.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

A few of my favorite things...

I've been meaning to write this post forever, but time seems to evade me these days. Nick has received some really awesome handmade gifts in the short time he's been in the world and I wanted to make a tribute to the crafty people in his (and my) life.

Long before Nick was even a twinkle in anyone's eye, Grandma Corkey was busy crocheting baby blankets for him and any babies that may come after him. The two blankets she gave to him are his favorite and he sleeps with them every night.



One of the first gifts Nick received after his abrupt entrace into the world was an adorable hand-knit hat from our friend Stacy. It is hard to believe it is one of her first knitting projects! Nick wore it regularly for the first six months of his life. His head is a bit large for it now, but it will make a reappearance with the next baby!

Our friend Sarah, among many other things, is an extremely talented knitter and Nick has been the recipient of several of her works of art. The first, and my personal favorite, is a red Norwegian-style ski hat. He's been wearing it all winter and I'm hoping his head doesn't grow too much so he can wear it next year! Sarah also knit him an adorable hedgehog that we affectionately named Hernie because of his resemblance to Nick's herniated belly button. The latest gift is a cute pair of Swedish mittens complete with a string to attach them (just like I wanted).

Nick's grandmother (Andy's mom), Mary Ann (Nana), is a great seamstress and has sewed and monogrammed all sorts of great gifts for Nick. Before he was born, she made a great fleece jacket with matching blanket and booties. She's also monogrammed him his own bathrobe, towel and overalls. Her showcase piece, however, is Nick's baptismal gown. It fit perfectly, and she didn't even have him around to measure!


The last gift I want to mention, while not technically handmade, fits into this "favorite things" category. For Nick's baptism, his godparents (and our dear friends) Becky & Daren gave him a beautiful engraved compass. The inscription reads:

Nick,
You can always count on God, Family and Friends to help you find your way.
Love, Becky & Daren

(I couldn't get a good picture with my camera, so the website one will have to do)

We are taking care of this until Nick is old enough to appreciate it, but we know it is something that he will treasure for his whole life.

April showers?

It's actually been a great month in Portland. We had two amazingly warm weekends and not-so-bad weather in between. We spent the majority of the month at home, and even completed a yard project this weekend (shocker, I know!).

14 adults & 2 babies set out for the hut
(Photo courtesy of Jen Gardiner)

Nick's first Easter was actually spent at a ski hut near Mt. Rainier. Unfortunately, the Easter Bunny did not make it up to the hut (it was quite snowy) but he did arrive a few days early in Portland (thanks Mimi!). We skied/snowshoed up to the Copper Creek Hut with a gang of Portlanders and a few folks from Seattle and spent two nights there. The weather didn't bode well for backcountry skiing while we were up there, but we did build a sweet kicker, get in some quality sledding, and partake in all sorts of games. We had a great time and appreciate our dear friends being so patient and helpful with the babies. The kiddos were awesome, but I have a feeling it might've been a good dose of birth control!

Lily (French) & Nick at the hut

Andy got a new (to him) road bike last month and has been getting in rides whenever possible. He's even been out on his mountain bike once or twice. I have been able to ride to work a few times which has been great and we've had Nick out in the Burley too. Before long, he'll need his own bike!

Nick has had a month full of accomplishments and set-backs. He's perfecting his crawling, learning how to pull himself up, broadening his language capabilities (he's mastered all sorts of consonants), and showing signs of being able to wave. However, he's also had bronchiolitis, an ear infection, a chronic cough and runny nose, explosive diarrhea, and most recently the rotavirus (self-diagnosed; maybe it's the swine flu). The joys of daycare...Lucky for Andy and I, he passed that last one on to us. Oh yes, and he's had a black eye and several bumps and bruises. We're hoping at this pace, he and his immune system will be bulletproof by his first birthday.

Speaking of the swine flu, Andy is heading to a wedding in Queretaro, Mexico later this week (flying into Mexico City). His good friend Paul Boyer is getting married (to Vero Gomez, who's from Queretaro) and Andy's in the wedding. It was a bit too far and too expensive for us all to go, but I think Andy will have a good time celebrating with his old friends from Spokane (without the old ball and chain).

All in all, it's been a great month. Business continues to be busy for Andy and work is going well for me. We are crossing our fingers that Nick is through the worst of his woes! And hopefully this nice weather will stick around for a while.

Andy's Wallowa Trip

At the end of March, Andy went on a backcoutry hut trip in the Wallowa Mountains in Eastern Oregon. He was joined by our good friend Sean, Jackie and Scott from Chicago and Jackie's brother Bryan. They had great snow, great weather, and a great time as evident from the pictures.

Rocky Mountain High...

Nick and I took a trip "home-home" (as we used to call it in college) last week to Colorado. We hit the weather just right and were blessed with 70 degree temps and days full of sunshine. While I love snow, I'm glad I was there last week and not this week for the blizzard.

We spent a few days in Glenwood, seeing our wonderful family and friends, before heading to Moab for the weekend with my mom, dad, sister and her three kids. I think it was the first time the four of us had been together on a vacation (without Andy or Richie) in over 10 years. While we missed our men, it was fun to be just with the Sheriffs.

The weather in Moab was perfect. High 70s and 80s, sun, a few clouds, and a nice breeze. Our purpose for going to Moab, other than sun, relaxation, and family time, was to run in the Canyonlands 5 Mile Race. My mom, sister and I all ran it and finished a few minutes under our goal of 50 minutes (speed-racers, I know). My mom actually took 5th in her age group and earned herself a medal. I can only hope I am in as great of shape as her when I'm 56. Heck, I can't even keep up with her at the age of 29. She's a rockstar.

Papa did a great job getting all the kids to the finish line!

Going home always soothes my soul. It's so nice to have such a fun and supportive family and great friends to welcome me. Nick was in heaven playing with his cousins - he and Brady are hilarious together and he can't get enough of Addie and Cooper. I got to spend some quality time with my cousins, who are turning into such mature, nice people. And we got to see Karen, Mandy & John, Steph & Nate (who are expecting!!), and Nick's godparents Becky & Daren (at a long layover at DIA). Good times.

Here are some more pictures - all of Nick & Brady!

Gettin' around

Nick heard that Brady started crawling last week and Jack from daycare figured it out over the weekend, so now it's his turn to step up to the plate. It's not exactly what I'd call crawling but he's on the move! You'd be surprised by the things that get him moving. Forget toys, he's more interested in shoes, computers, remotes, cell phones, and in this instance, the camera!

Fiesta Friday!

We hosted a little fiesta a few Fridays ago, inspired by an awesome pulled pork taco recipe my friend Lindsey Hayes passed along. Nick whipped up a batch of his killer (literally) margahooties. Fortunately for him, he was in bed long before the debauchery began. Fun was had by all, as evident from the pictures, and a double dose of Advil was necessary on Saturday morning.

Here's the recipe for the tacos. The margahooties...well, you'll have to speak with Nick about that one. He's a tough nut to crack.

Bath time!

Baths in the sink are my new favorite pasttime with Nick. Here he is in all his glory.